Alternanthera plant named ‘Mimosa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alternanthera  plant named ‘Mimosa’, characterized by its overall rounded plant habit with lateral branches upright to outwardly spreading and trailing; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; strong and healthy leaves; leaves that are dark green in color with random sectors of varying shades of pink and red purple; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alternanthera ficoidea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MIMOSA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alternanthera plant, botanically known as Alternanthera ficoidea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Mimosa’.

The new Alternanthera plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Partytime’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,789. The new Alternanthera plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of ‘Partytime’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alpharetta, Ga. during the summer of 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alternanthera plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alpharetta, Ga. since July, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Alternanthera plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alternanthera have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Mimosa’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mimosa’ as a new and distinct Alternanthera plant:

-   -   1. Overall rounded plant habit with lateral branches upright to         outwardly spreading and trailing.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Strong and healthy leaves.     -   4. Leaves that are dark green in color with random sectors of         varying shades of pink and red purple.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alternanthera differ primarily from plants of the parent, ‘Partytime’, in leaf color as plants of ‘Partytime’ have leaves green, creamy white and red purple-colored leaves. In addition, plants of the new Alternanthera have smaller leaves than plants of ‘Partytime’.

Plants of the new Alternanthera can be compared to plants of Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Creme de Menthe’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,263. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alpharetta, Ga., plants of the new Alternanthera differed from plants of ‘Creme de Menthe’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alternanthera were not as upright as plants         of ‘Creme de Menthe’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alternanthera and ‘Creme de Menthe’         differed in leaf color as plants of ‘Creme de Menthe’ had green         and pale yellow-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Alternanthera can also be compared to plants of Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Raspberry Rum’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,016. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alpharetta, Ga., plants of the new Alternanthera differed from plants of ‘Raspberry Rum’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alternanthera were not as upright as plants         of ‘Raspberry Rum’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alternanthera and ‘Raspberry Rum’ differed         in leaf color as plants of ‘Raspberry Rum’ had hot pink and         brown-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alternanthera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alternanthera plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Mimosa’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Mimosa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late winter and early spring in one-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Alpharetta, Ga. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 24° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Mimosa’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alternanthera     ficoidea ‘Partytime’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,789. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 24° C. to             27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 21° C. to             24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at 24° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 38 to 42             days at 21° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous subshrub; overall             rounded plant habit; lateral branches upright to outwardly             spreading and trailing; freely branching and densely             foliated, bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with lateral             branches potentially forming at every node.         -   Plant height.—About 43 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 55 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 40 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm. Internode length: About 4.4 cm. Strength:             Strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             developing: Close to N137A to N137B or 59C. Color,             developed: Close to N137A to N137B overlain with varying             degrees of between 59C and 60C or close to between 59C and             60C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple; strong and             healthy leaves. Length: About 6.2 cm. Width: About 4.1 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse with cuneate             tendencies. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugose. Venation: Pinnate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A to             N137B with or without random sectors of N57A, 58A, 52A to             52B, or 63A to 63B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A with or without random sectors of dulled N57A,             dulled 58A, dulled 52B, or dulled 63A to 63B. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A with or without random             sectors of 63A to 63B, N57A, 58A or 52B; midvein, close to             N137A to N137B or 59A; lateral veins, similar to leaf             surface color(s). Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Close to 146A with or without random sectors of dulled 63A             to 63B, dulled N57A, dulled 58A or dulled 52B; midvein,             close to 146B or 59A; lateral veins, similar to leaf surface             color(s). Petiole: Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 59A to 59C or 60C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Small single funnelform             flowers arranged on branched terminal and upper axillary             racemes; freely flowering habit with numerous flowers             developing per inflorescence; flowers face outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower repeatedly from spring to autumn.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 17 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Flower length.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to N137B.         -   Petals.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: Five sepals fused into a narrow tube;             apices free. Length: Less than 1 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm.             Lobe shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 154D. Fully             opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 155A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter, at the base: About             2.5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Mostly             outwardly. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N137A             to N137B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Mostly outwardly.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Alternanthera. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alternanthera have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alternanthera plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alternanthera have been     observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about 38° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alternanthera plant named ‘Mimosa’ as illustrated and described. 